Corn-cutting machine.



W. B. FENN.

CORN CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. I914.

9, Patented Oct. 29, 1918,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

=+fig ILLIAMB. FEN/V, INVENTOR.

W. B. FENN.

CORN cunmc MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. I914.

1,28,79m Patented 00 0.29, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTOREY.

- WILLIAM B. FENN, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOLR, T0. "WEDOIT COMPANY, OF

COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORFORATION OF OHIO.

CORN-CUTTING ivi'aonrn'is.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented that. 29, Mutt Application filed December 26, 1914t. Serial No.$79,069.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that T, WILLIAM B. FENN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State ofOhio, have invented cer-' tain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to corn cutting machines and contemplates theprovision of a machine having a minimum number of parts for efiicientlyfeeding the ears of corn, removing the kernels with a cut of anydesireddepth, and then digging out the chits of the kernels from the cobwithout retarding the passage of the ears of corn through the machine.

One of the important features of my improvement relates to the feedingmechanism which is of a novel and simple form. It is based upon the useof a skewed roller which contacts with the ear and by its rotation bot-hrotates the ear and feeds it longitudinally. In the form which 1 shalldescribe, there are used thre rollers to a set but it is apparent thatany variations of the principle may be had.

In the cutting of corn from the cob by a spiral cutting action, certainpeculiar conditions arise. For instance, an obvious way to do this is torotate each ear and at the same time longitudinally feed it to andthrough concentrically disposed cutting knives. Now, the relativerotation between the ears and the knives and the longitudinal feed ofthe ears must have a definite relation to each other in an idealmachine. For example, if the longitudinal feed is too rapid in relationto. rotation, all the kernels will not be severed; or if the rotation istoo rapid in relation to the longitudinal feed, some portions of ;theears will be covered more than once by the knives.

Another feature, which is closely related to these conditions, resultsfrom the fact that the ears are constantly varying in size.

. Therefore, if the speed of rotation is maintained throughout, the rateof cutting will be more rapid in operating upon a large ear than upon asmall ear; for the knives completely rotate about-a large ear in thesame length of time in which they rotate about a small car. In otherwords, with a large ear, each kernel will be severed more rapidly thanwith a smallear.

With these facts in mind, it will be obvious that an ideal corn cuttingmachine should have a constant rate of cutting, that is, each kernelshould be severed in about the same time, regardless of the size of theear being operated upon.

This machine maintains a constant rate of cutting. As the ears increasein size, the skewed rollers oscillate so as to decrease the relativespeed of rotation between the ear and the knives, which maintains therate of cutting constant. At the same time that the speed of rotationhas decreased, the speed of longitudinal feed has also decreased, sothat such speed will be so slowed that all of the kernels will besevered and no part of the ear covered more than once by the knives.Thus, the rate of cutting is automatically maintained and both therotation and the longitudinal feed are so varied that they retain theirproper relation to each other. It will be obvious that, in passing froma large to a small ear, the reverse occurs.

In conjunction with the feeding rollers, T. desirably use a driving beltor chain which is tensioned and so disposed as to nor mally maintain thefeeding roll-or rollers in contact with the ears of corn. This willappear from the preferred form to be illus trated in the drawings.

4 Another novel feature of my improvement relates to a means on thecutting knives for regulating the depth of the cut so that the machinemay produce cream corn. This is commonly efiected by cutting off theheadsof the kernels and then mashing out the chits. Or my machine mayentirely remove the kernels, making a cut practically free from themashing action. This device is particularly efi'ective in conjunctionwith digging rollers that I utilize for grasping and feeding the ears asthey leave the knives.

The preferred forms of my invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvement, partiallybroken away.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is a detail in elevation showing one of the feeding rolls and thepreferred Fig. 5 is a detail in elevation showing a further modificationof my improved feeding radial knives 10 preferably yieldably mounted toconform to the diameter of the corn cob as it passes through themachine. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that these knives 10extend into an opening 11 in such casing 9 and it will be understoodthat the ear of corn is received by rolls 12 and fed into such openingin its delivery to the cutting knives.

Reference to Figs. 1 and 2 will disclose knife attachments in the formof gaging rolls 30 which are adjustable in slots 31 and which aredesigned to bear against the external surfaces of the uncut kernels ofcorn as they approach the cutting knives. Thus, the depth of the cut maybe regulated by placing these rolls in a predetermined position, itbeing apparent that locking means 32 may serve to maintain the adjustedposition of these rolls. Thus, if it is desired to produce cream corn,the rolls 30 may be set so that the tops of the kernels are cut off bythe knives while the chits of the kernels are dug out by the diggingfeeding rolls to be described.

The rolls 12 are preferably of the form shown in Fig. 3 wherein theycomprise friction surfaces 13 and grooves 14 within which moves the belt7 for effecting rotation of such rolls. These rolls are mounted withtheir axes atan angle to the vertical and their skewed position bringsthem into contact with the ears of corn at such an angle that these earsof corn are not only rotated but are fed longitudinally. The result isthat each ear of corn is grasped and given a spiral movement intosubjection to the cutting knives. The rollers, being provided with broadfrictional surfaces firmly grip the corn and without marring the samesuccessively pass the ears to the cutting knives.

As the ears leave the cutting knives they are gripped by the diggingrolls 15 which are disposed in skewed position and which serve to rotateand feed the ears longitudinally, at the same time digging out the chitsof the corn.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be apparent that the rolls 12 and 15 aremounted in T- shaped yokes 16 having shanks 17 which are automaticallyadjustable rotatably by their mountings in collars 1 8, such automaticadweaves justment being limited and guided by the roller pins 19 workingin cam slots 20 in these collars 18. It will be understood that thisautomatic adjustment serves to compensate for the constant variation ofthe position of the rolls in conformity with the varying diameters ofthe ears of corn.

The feeding rollers are constantly pressed in against the ears of cornby the operation of the driving belt 7 which encompasses the same andwhich is constantly tensioned by the tension rollers 21 and 22' underthe control of springs 23 and 24.

The operation of this structure will be apparent. Although the feedrollers may be independently driven and independently moved inward theyare shown in the present form to be driven bya single friction belt, andby such belt, to be forced continually into contact with the ears ofcorn regardless of the varying shapes and diameters thereof.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Fig. 4, the rolls 12 areof the same form as in the preceding figures and are driven by a belt25. I11 this figure, however, the feed rolls are independently forcedinward by springs 26 although it will be understood that they are skewedrolls and operate in substantially the same manner.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 contemplates the movement of the earsof corn through the machine by contact therewith of a friction-facedbelt which is disposed at an angle suitable to contact with the ears ofcorn and, while rotating such ears of corn, moves them horizontally andlongitudinally through the machine.

It will be apparent that I haveprovided a machine which is simple inthat a single mechanism is utilized for rotating and feeding the ears ofcorn longitudinally and in that the driving mechanism for such feedingdevices serves to automatically maintain the feeding elements incoactive relation with the ears in passing them through the machine. Inaddition, I have provided a simple device for regulating the depth ofthe cut and this regulation means in conju tion with digging feedingrolls is peculiai ly effective for the production of cream corn, if thisseems desirable.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: r i

1. In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob, means for lonitudinally feeding ears of corn to relativefy rotating cuttingknivesyand means for varying the speed of relative rotation between theknives and ears and the speed of longitudinal feed as such ears vary indiameter.

2. In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob, means forlongitudinally feeding ears of corn to the relatively rotating cuttingknives, and means for automatically varying the speed of relativerotation between the knives and ears and the speed of.

memes longitudinal feed as such ears vary in diameter.

3. In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob, means forlongitudinally feeding ears of corn to relatively rotating cuttingknives, and means for varying the speed of relative rotation between theknives and ears as such ears increase in diameter.

4. In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob, means forlongitudinally feeding ears of corn to relatively rotating cuttingknives, and means for automatically varying the speed of relativerotation between the knives and ears as such ears increase in diameter.x

5. In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob by a spiral cuttingaction means for longitudinally feediiarig ears of corn to relativelyrotating cutting knives and means for maintaining a uniform rate ofcutting as the cars of corn vary in diameter.

6. In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob by a spiral cuttingaction, means for longitudinally feeding ears of corn to relativelyrotating cutting knives and means for controlling the rate of cutting asthe ears vary in diameter.

7; In a corn cutting machine, self-adjusting feeding members havingportions disposed at an angle contacting with and adapted tosimultaneously propel and rotate ears of corn.

8. In a corn cutting machine, feeding elements contacting with andmoving the ears longitudinally, said elements being of a character tosimultaneous] y rotate such ears, and being adjustable to assume variantpositions as the ears vary in contour.

9; In a corn cutting machine, feeding elements contacting with andmoving the ears longitudinally, said elements being of a character tosimultaneously rotate such ears and being automatically adjustable toassume variant positions as the ears vary in contour.

10. In a corn cutting machine, feeding rolls skewed to simultaneouslyrotate and feed the ears of corn bycontact therewith, said rolls beingso mounted as to be automatically movable to conform to the ears ofcorn.

11. In a corn cutting machine complemental feeding rolls with their axesin different planes, said rolls being automatically adjiistable untiltheir axes assumethe proper ang e. c

12. In a corn cutting machine, feeding rolls, and an encompassing belttensioned to force said rolls against the ears of corn which they feed.

13. In a corn cutting -machine, skewed feeding rolls havin peripheralgrooves therein, said rolls being radially movable,

and a tensioned driving belt embracing said rolls and fitting in theirgrooves, said belt maintaining said rolls in operative contact with theears of corn.

14:. In a corn cutting machine, a means for rotating and feeding ears ofcorn, cutting knives and gage rollers for gaging the depth of the cut ofsuch knives.

15. In a corn cutting machine, a means for rotating and feeding the earsof corn, cutting knives, means for gaging the depth of cut of suchknives, and digging feeding rollers for rotating and feeding the ears asthey leave said knives. p

16. In a corn cutting machine, complemental feeding rolls with theiraxes uniformly in difierent planes, and means for varying the saidplanes in which the axes of said feeding rolls operate.

17. In a corn cutting machine, complemental feeding rolls with theiraxes in difof said axes similarly positioned with reference to thelongitudinal axis of said ears and non-parallel with each other.

18. In acorn cutting machine, a plurality of skewed rolls adapted toengage the surface of cars of corn in a transverse plane, said rollspositioned to definitely guide the ears of corn, and means for rotatingsaid rolls to rotate and longitudinally feed said Bil-PS.

19. .In a corn cutting machine, a plurality of skewed rolls for feedingears of corn, means for varying the skew of said rolls, and means forrotating said rolls to rotate and longitudinally feed said ears.

20. In a corn cutting machine, a plurality of rolls for feeding ears ofcorn of varying size by contact therewith, means for cutting the cornfrom said'ears in a spiral path, said means constructed to operate witha definite pitch of said spiral, means for rotating said rolls to rotateand longitudinally feed said ears, and means for varying the angle ofcontact of said rolls with the ears to feed the ears in a spiralcorresponding to the pitch of said cutting spiral.

21. In a corn cutting machine, a plurality of rolls for feeding ears ofcorn of varying size by contact therewith, means for cutting the cornfrom said ears in a spiral path, said means constructed to operate witha varying angle of said spiral on varying sized ears, means for rotatingsaid rolls to rotate and longitudinally feed said ears, and means forvarying the angle of contact of said rolls with the varying sized earsto feed the ears in a spiral whose angle corresponds to the angle of thesaid spiral cut.

22. A corn cutting machine comprising, skewed rolls contacting with thesurfaces of cars of corn of varying size to rotate and longitudinallyfeed them, knives contacting with said ears and operative in a spiralpath ferent planes for feeding ears of corn, each llIlll of a definiteWidth, and means for varying the skew of said rolls to maintain al0ngitudinal feed corresponding to the Width of said spiral path of theknives.

23.- A machine for feeding units of circular cross-section comprising, aplurality of rolls for feeding units of varying size, means for rotatinsaid rolls to rotate and longitudinally teed said units, and means forvarying the skew of said rolls to maintain 10 the longitudinal feedduring each rotation of varying sized units.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix 'my signature in presence of tWoWitnesses.

. WILLIAM B. FENN. Witnesses:

ETHEL HAMBLETON, J. C. NAILoR.

